Lexical Summary tsippar: Bird, sparrow Original Word: צְפַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bird (Aramaic) corresponding to tsippowr; a bird. -- bird. see HEBREW tsippowr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to tsippor Definition a bird NASB Translation birds (3), birds' (1). Topical Lexicon Occurrences and Narrative Settingצְפַר appears only four times, all in Daniel 4 (verses 12, 14, 21, 33). The first three instances belong to King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the colossal tree that “reached to the sky and was visible to the ends of the earth” (Daniel 4:11). The fourth belongs to the historical fulfilment in which the king is driven from human society. The tight concentration of the word in a single chapter means its significance is inseparably bound to the rise, fall and restoration of Babylon’s greatest monarch. Symbolism in Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream (Daniel 4:12, 14, 21) 1. Beauty and Provision “Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all” (4:12). The element designated by צְפַר highlights attractiveness, health and generous provision. In the larger symbolism of the tree standing for Nebuchadnezzar’s rulership, the detail stresses that God had made Babylon’s empire a shelter and sustenance for many nations (cf. Jeremiah 27:6-7). 2. Fragility Before Divine Judgment The heavenly watcher commands, “Cut down the tree and trim off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit” (4:14). What once spoke of prosperity now becomes expendable. The word therefore serves a dual function: it had testified to imperial glory, yet under God’s verdict it witnesses to sudden humiliation. All earthly grandeur is provisional, contingent upon divine favor. 3. Daniel’s Interpretation When Daniel recounts the dream back to the king (4:21) he faithfully repeats every detail, including צְפַר, underscoring that no part of God’s revelation is superfluous. The prophetic servant refuses to edit or soften the message, modeling integrity in handling God’s word (cf. 2 Timothy 2:15). Historical Fulfilment (Daniel 4:33) The same word re-appears when the sentence strikes: “His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws” (4:33). The king’s regal beauty degenerates into animalistic grotesqueness. The deliberate echo of the dream terminology shows that the judge of all the earth executes His warnings to the letter. Nebuchadnezzar’s distorted appearance is not mere pathology; it is a public sign that pride dehumanizes and that sovereign glory belongs only to God. Theological Themes • Sovereignty of God. The repeated word links vision and reality, proving that the Most High “does as He pleases with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth” (Daniel 4:35). Historical Background Nebuchadnezzar’s vast building projects filled Babylon with lush gardens, exotic trees and brilliantly colored glazed-brick reliefs of foliage—outward displays of the very splendor Daniel 4 describes. The prophet’s vision would have resonated vividly with Babylonian citizens accustomed to regarding their king’s horticultural marvels as symbols of divine favor. By employing imagery familiar to its original audience, Scripture confronts pagan presuppositions on their own cultural ground. Ministry Applications 1. Confronting Pride. Leaders at every level must reckon with Nebuchadnezzar’s lesson: when our achievements become idols, God may dismantle them to expose our dependence. Christological Echoes The majestic tree that shelters the nations finds a greater counterpart in the kingdom of the Messiah, whose growth “becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches” (Matthew 13:32). Where Nebuchadnezzar’s glory withered, Jesus Christ’s reign endures forever, offering true refuge and fruit that never fails (Revelation 22:2). Forms and Transliterations וְצִפְּרַיָּ֖א וצפריא כְצִפְּרִֽין׃ כצפרין׃ צִפֲּרֵ֣י צִפֲּרֵ֥י צפרי chetzippeRin ḵə·ṣip·pə·rîn ḵəṣippərîn ṣip·pă·rê ṣippărê tzippaRei vetzipperaiYa wə·ṣip·pə·ray·yā wəṣippərayyāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:12 HEB: (יְדוּרָן֙ ק) צִפֲּרֵ֣י שְׁמַיָּ֔א וּמִנֵּ֖הּ NAS: under it, And the birds of the sky KJV: under it, and the fowls of the heaven INT: branches dwell and the birds of the sky of it Daniel 4:14 Daniel 4:21 Daniel 4:33 4 Occurrences |
    |